Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award for New and Early Stage investigators (R35)

January 17, 2018; May 17, 2018; January 17, 2019; May 17, 2019, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates.

The Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) is a grant to provide support for the program of research in an investigator's laboratory that falls within the mission of NIGMS. For the purpose of this FOA, a program of research is the collection of projects in the investigator's lab that are relevant to the mission of NIGMS. The goal of MIRA is to increase the efficiency and efficacy of NIGMS funding. It is anticipated that this mechanism will:

Increase the stability of funding for NIGMS-supported investigators, which could enhance their ability to take on ambitious scientific projects and approach problems more creatively;

Increase flexibility for investigators to follow important new research directions as opportunities arise, rather than being bound to specific aims proposed in advance of the studies;

More widely distribute funding among the nation's highly talented and promising investigators to increase overall scientific productivity and the chances for important breakthroughs;

Reduce the time spent by researchers writing and reviewing grant applications, allowing them to spend more time conducting research;

Enable investigators to devote more time and energy to mentoring trainees in a more stable research environment.

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.
Eligibility is restricted to PDs/PIs with at least one NIGMS R01 equivalent award (defined here as R01, R37, DP2, and SC1 awards) that was awarded funding in the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year of the MIRA application submission and whose project end date is in the same or subsequent fiscal year of the MIRA application submission. See restrictions on overlapping applications in Section III.3.
PDs/PIs who submitted a MIRA application in previous years and are eligible for this FOA are welcome to apply, but must submit a New Application, rather than a Resubmission.
The PD/PI is required to devote at least 51% of his/her time available for research to this award and the commitment expressed in person-months. The time available for research should be expressed in person-months and should not include time expended toward teaching, administration, and/or clinical duties.
Only single PD/PI applications are allowed. Applications with multiple PD(s)/PI(s) will not be accepted.

Applications may request up to $750,000 direct costs per year. Investigators are encouraged to request what are well-justified actual costs for their research program. In general, awards will be commensurate with the investigator’s average total NIGMS research funding over the past few years. For PDs/PIs previously supported by modest budgets (~$250,000 in annual direct costs or less), well-justified increases will be considered. For well-funded PDs/PIs (two or more NIGMS research grants or approximately $400,000 or more in annual direct costs from NIGMS) modest reductions should be anticipated, and only in exceptionally well-justified cases would an increase be awarded. Applications may request a maximum project period of five years.